RESPONDING TO 'EFFORTS TO IMPOSE SHARIAH LAW IN BANGLADESH

Monday 20 February 2012

Responding to ‘Efforts to Impose Shariah Law in Bangladesh’

Hameed Abdul Karim

As a Muslim I am required to know aspects of the Sharia so as to live life in accordance with my faith. But the Sharia that Manzoor Ahmed is talking about in ‘Ceylon Today’ (Saturday 18 February 2012) under the title ‘Efforts to Impose Sharia Law in Bangladesh’ is the one that is promulgated by Western interests as a scaremongering tactic to frighten non-Muslims and even ‘moderate’ Muslims away from the teachings of Islam.

From its very inception Islam remedied many of the injustices the world was riddled with as even a non-friendly writer like Karen Armstrong, among many other past and present orientalists have been compelled to admit as a historical fact. Is the world a better place today? One of Islam’s basic tenets is to fight against economic injustice and it is reported in Sahih Bukhari (a collection of the prophetic sayings) that the blessed messenger of God the prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of God be on him and all the prophets who preceded him) had said that he would love to see the day when a rich man traversed the world to give zakat (charity) to the poor and found no takers. Giving of charity is enshrined in the Sharia. Would anybody like to object to that aspect of the Sharia?

FAITH OVER FATE

This is a speech I delivered at the launching of the book 'Silent Struggle' by Irfan Hafiz at Dargha Town on the 19th of February 2012. Irfan Hafuz iu suffering from an uncommon and incurable disease called Duchene Nuscular Disease (DMD). This book is a collection of poems that young Irfan had penned in so poignant and moving manner. 

Faith over Fate

Hameed Abdul Karim

‘For us Allah sufficeth and He is the best disposer of affairs’

Qur’an 3:173

It’s hard to tell your own story. It becomes harder still if that story is one of pain and anguish as is the story of young Irfan. Reading his poems one can’t help but believe that his story has been wrenched from his heart with the noble purpose of transferring it, ever so gently, into the hearts and minds of men blessed with good health and inspiring them to think thoughts of life and its grueling trudge, thoughts that might have otherwise eluded them as they recline in the joy and comforts that Allah subhanahu wa ta’la has provided them. But every once in a while comes a story that jolts our souls, shatters our thoughts and bring us back to the reality of life in its very essence. This is the balance that Allah provides for us so that we can reflect on the actuality of this earthly life.

CHANGING GEARS - LANKAWEB

LANKAWEB

February 3, 2012

Changing Gears 

Hameed Abdul Karim

The US Empire suffered a major blow to its occupation of Afghanistan when its trouble shooter Richard Holbrooke, nicknamed ‘raging bull’, died a sudden death in Washington. At this point of time, the US depended entirely on him to pull it out of the quagmire it had got embroiled in Afghanistan. This left one to wonder why an empire as militarily and economically powerful as the US should have placed all its bets on just one man. Incidentally it was a Pakistani surgeon who operated on Holbrooke. To him Holbrooke said ‘you’ve got to stop the war in Afghanistan’. Those were his last words according to family members as reported in the Huff Post.